Check out the debate over Energy Independence at Next America!

Is Energy Independence A Myth or the Right Goal for America to Pursue?

YPFP members should definitely contribute to this fascinating discussion. Here's my response to the commentary from their website:

While energy independence is a powerful rhetorical concept, and energy security is an important strategic objective, neither phrase has very much to do with reality. It is essential for the health of our economy, the welfare of our citizens, the safety of our environment and the independence of our foreign policy that we recognize we are indeed in on the brink of an energy crisis and take appropriate correctives, but most of the solutions being discussed suffer from two flaws:

We are now seeking volunteers for leadership opportunities in all areas of YPFP and at all levels of time commitment.

Check out the job board for details. Every few weeks we will advertise a new set of positions. Please direct questions and applications to recruiting@ypfp.org.

NOW - Programming (Due May 18)
Early May – Public Service
Late May – Communications & Technology
Early June – Membership
Late June – New York & London
Early July – Finance

YPFP has doubled in size in the last year. This explosive growth requires dedicated leaders who volunteer their time, talent and energy to ensure the continued success and sustainability of YPFP.

We're excited to add this new feature to YPFP. The YPFP Wire is a forum to highlight the accomplishments of YPFP and its members on a regular basis. Click here to read the full YPFP Wire.

The first issue includes:

Human Rights Face to Face: The YPFP Refugee Assistance Program - Nathalie Marechal relates her experience working with a refugee family from Iraq.

More than Mojitos: The Latin America Discussion Group Takes on Cuba - Daniel Elliott describes the group's recent discussion of the future of American policy toward the island following the resignation of Fidel Castro.

YPFP accepted it's 1,900th member.

This January, YPFP's leadership adjusted upwards our predictions for annual membership growth and so far we are tracking as projected. YPFP anticipates a global membership of 4,000 members by the end of the year. Data about the size and characteristics of the membership are used to plan the size and frequency of events, forecast traffic on our website, and prepare for future geographic expansions, among other variables.

The rationale for the adjustment is that the size of YPFP's membership is not just steadily increasing each month, but it's accelerating. The Membership Committee currently receives an average of 150 applications every month, which is double the number a year ago.

The Editors and staff of Washingtonian Magazine selected our upcoming Fundraising Party as a "Top Pick" on their venerable online social calendar.

So YPFP members and guests no longer have to take my word for it -- the doyennes of DC Night Life have affixed their seal of approval.

It's going to be a great party for a great cause! See you on the 24th!

Discount tickets for members are available here.

You may be interested in seeing Alex Petersen, Vice-President of YPFP London, discuss Yeltsin and Putin on internet television.

Under 'Programmes', scroll down to 'Worldview' and click on the latest show: 'Putin's Russia: Yeltsin's Legacy'. You do need to fast-forward as Alex's segment is not on immediately.

Congrats Alex!

 
Mike Doran, the Senior Director at the National Security Council who spoke at a YPFP meeting last Wednesday, was profiled in this article in the Washington Post. Check it out. 

The article says: "Mike is one of the most interesting folks in the field. He's astonishingly creative and independent," said Gideon Rose, Foreign Affairs' managing editor. "He understands radical Islamists the way they understand themselves."

Joel is absolutely right when he says it's the substance that matters more than style.

Public diplomacy is important on the margins of public opinion, or on shaping discourse -- style helps -- but ultimately if a policy is antithetical to a state's interests, it probably can't be packaged in a way that conceals or compensates for that.

Many American policies are directly antithetical to many states' interests, or at least their perceptions of them. So it makes sense that the U.S. is not doing well in the popularity contest in the high school of the world.

Jeff Dexter raised an important issue about the possibility of an Israeli-Syrian deal in his response to John Havens'  post on  the State of the Union.

The World Affairs Council hosted a meeting with the Syrian ambassador on Monday which I attended and this very issue was discussed. I will not quote the ambassador, but here are my own conclusions, based on the discussion:

Israel and Syria must be having serious, ongoing conversations about renewing a treaty. How could they not? Twice they have reached an agreement. First, it was with Rabin, which was abandoned after his assassination. The second attempt was with Barak, who -- according to Dennis Ross -- put the deal on hold because he feared that making peace with Syria would cost him his upcoming election. When Barak lost anyway and Sharon took over, any hope of a treaty disappeared during his tenure. With Olmert's arrival, the possibility of renewing talks must have been on everyone's mind until the Lebanon crisis. As that recedes into the background, it's only a matter of time before serious public discussions resume.

Tony Cordesman and his prolific shop at CSIS produces outstanding, detailed, realistic defense analysis and strategic assessments. Today he released his evaluation of Bush's plan for a troop surge. It's definitely worth reading for two reasons:

1) It is packed with useful information, quotations, and analysis, making it both a valuable assessment of where we are now and primer of sorts if you missed the last three years.

2) He is one of the only people with any credibility who is giving Bush's plan a fair shake. It's no ringing endorsement, but it's the most favorable evaluation I have seen from a respected analyst. Cordesman is not in the Bush camp. He has a decades long reputation for objectivity, and I personally have heard him lambast this administration. So if he thinks it might work, it's worth knowing why.